296 COMMON OBJECTS OF THE SHORE. 



geny in one season. Every one knows this com- 

 mon animal, which is more or less of a reddish 

 yellow colour in some cases of a purplish tinge, 

 and varying in size from a specimen which might 

 lie in the palm of the hand, to one six or eight 

 inches in diameter. This star-fish, though at first 

 sight not a particularly attractive one, should be 

 taken home and placed in a large vessel of sea- 

 water, or carried to some rocky pool, if we would 

 see its wondrous and beautiful structure. If placed 

 in a glass jar on its back, one of its first movements 

 will probably be to turn itself round. This it does 

 by folding over two or three of its rays, and then, 

 with a sudden jerk, placing itself in its right 

 position. If we look at its under surface, we shall 

 discover, along each ray, a calcareous framework, 

 composed of regular portions, commencing at the 

 central mouth, and extending in a furrow to the 

 tip of the ray. In this groove are many orifices, 

 through which are protruded small fleshy suckers, 

 which serve as legs, and each of which is termi- 

 nated by a disc. More than three hundred of these 

 suckers are placed on each ray, and we need no 

 microscope to enable us to see them, moving 

 sometimes all together, at others, only a few at a 

 time. And well do these moving legs serve also 

 to hold down the prey. Our star-fish has an 

 appetite not easily satisfied. It has to cleanse the 

 waters near the shore of that offal which else 

 would pollute the atmosphere ; and the great 

 Creator, who appointed to the star-fishes their 

 occupation, gave them the inclination and the 

 power to perform it. Nothing comes amiss to 

 them. They can feed on the decomposing mass 

 of dead animal matter, can swallow alike the 



